New Movie Role: Rob to star as Dennis Stock in Anton Corbijn’s 'Life'

Robert Pattinson will star as Magnum photographer Dennis Stock and Dane DeHaan will play James Dean in Anton Corbijn’s Life. FilmNation handles international sales and will introduce the script to buyers in Toronto.

Luke Davies wrote the screenplay to Life, which chronicles the friendship that ensued when the straight-laced Stock embarked on a road trip with Dean in 1955 for a Life magazine commission.Filming is scheduled to commence production in February 2014 on location in Canada.“As an internationally celebrated photographer, Anton Corbijn is the perfect filmmaker to direct Life,” said Canning and Sherman. “Finding the right actor to play James Dean was a big responsibility, but Dane’s body of work has proved what a chameleon he is and what he will contribute to the role.“Casting Robert Pattinson and Dane DeHaan brings together two of the most exciting young actors of their generation.”

“We were fortunate to work with Anton on A Most Wanted Man and are thrilled to be a part of his next film,” said FilmNation CEO Glen Basner. “His incredible talent combined with the chemistry between Dane and Robert will bring to life the fascinating story of the fast friendship formed at a very pivotal time in Dean’s life.

“The project also marks our re-teaming with See-Saw Films whose impressive track record continuously keeps them a top-player in international film production.”

Pattinson will next be see in David Michôd’s The Rover and starred in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis as well as the Twilight franchise. He recently wrapped on Cronenberg’s Maps To The Stars.

DeHaan broke out in the sci-fi hit Chronicle and also stars in Toronto entries Devil’s Knot, Metallica Through The Never and Kill Your Darlings. His credits include The Place Beyond The Pines.

First revealed earlier this summer, Life is a period piece whose drama is deeply rooted in the intertwining worlds of fame and photography, something the helmer is remarkably familiar with. As scripted by Luke Davies, its action centers on the relationship between James Dean and Life Magazine‘s Dennis Stock, the latter of whom had been tasked with capturing the up-and-coming actor less than a year before his rise to stardom and tragic death.

We’ve now got news from Screen Daily who will take the parts, as Robert Pattinson has signed on for Stock and Dane DeHaan will step into the iconic shoes of Dean. Production is already set for this February in Canada, where we will follow the duo on a road trip. This is another addition to Pattinson’s promising slate of films coming up, with David Michôd’s The Rover and David Cronenberg‘s Maps to the Stars, while DeHaan will be see in Kill Your Darlings and Metallica Through the Never this fall, ahead of his major turn in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Dane DeHaan will play James Dean and Robert Pattinson will play Magnum photographer Dennis Stock in Anton Corbijn’s “Life,” which FilmNation will be selling to international buyers at the Toronto market.